37 Chapter 37

◎You are finished◎

“I’m back, I’m back!”

A carriage slowly approached from afar, and the person sitting on it was Jiang Jingyun, who had been away for more than half a month.

As soon as they met, before they could say anything, his aunt pinched his cheek distressedly: "Oh, how come the flesh on your face has disappeared? Are you not feeling well outside and suffering?"

Jiang Jingyun rubbed his wrinkled face. Fearing that his elders would worry, he did not tell the truth: "No, it's just that the weather is too hot and I feel a bit miserable."

My aunt-in-law naturally didn't believe it.

Last summer was so hot, but several children still had to walk back and forth on the mountain roads every day to set up their stalls. They were so tired but didn’t lose any weight. Now, it has been less than a month since he left the house, and there is only a skeleton left on his face. He must have suffered a lot outside. She felt sad just thinking about it, and thought about making more soup for her nephew to nourish his body in the next few days.

"How was the college entrance examination? Did you pass?" Uncle was probably the person in the family who cared most about Jiang Jingyun's grades. After all, this was also what Jiang Laoer cared about most before he died.

Hearing this question, everyone instantly quieted down and looked at Jiang Jingyun nervously, asking for the result.

Seeing his nephew standing there without saying anything, the uncle thought that he had failed the test and was too embarrassed to say it in front of so many people. So although he felt regretful and sad, he still forced himself to comfort him: "It doesn't matter if you didn't do well in the test, we will try harder next time..."

Before he finished speaking, he heard Jiang Jingyun say, "I passed the exam!"

"Well, it doesn't matter if you pass the exam. Anyway...ah, you passed the exam?" The uncle was still racking his brains, thinking of how to comfort his nephew who failed the exam. He suddenly realized it halfway through his words, his eyes full of disbelief, "You really passed?!"

Jiang Jingyun smiled brightly and nodded vigorously, "Yes! I got second place in the college exam, so I am also a scholar now!"

Uncle Jiang was very excited. Just as he was about to go forward and hug his nephew, he heard a cry from behind.

"Aoaoao... Fifth brother, you are so awesome!" Elder brother Jiang, who was busy in the restaurant, didn't see anyone coming in for a long time, so he took the time to sneak out to see what was going on. When he got closer, he heard the words that Jiang Jingyun had passed the examination and became a scholar. He was immediately excited and joined hands with Second brother Jiang to pick him up and throw him into the air.

“Ahhhhhhh…put me down!” This time it was Jiang Jingyun’s turn to scream, “I’m afraid of heights, ahhhh…Brother Xiao, help!”

…

This farce ended with Xiao Muyan successfully rescuing Jiang Jingyun from the clutches of the devil, and the two Jiang brothers each received a slap on the head by their aunt.

Everyone happily surrounded Jiang Jingyun and walked in. The regular customers in the lobby who loved to join in the fun also came forward to congratulate him. Uncle Jiang was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling. He waved his hand and said, "There is a happy event in the family. From today on, for three consecutive days, the whole store will be 20% off. Let's celebrate together!"

The whole audience cheered.

After Uncle Jiang finished speaking, he noticed Xiao Muyan standing beside him. Fearing that he might misunderstand, he whispered, "This money will only be deducted from my share."

Xiao Muyan didn't mind at all, and instead offered to contribute some money as well.

Uncle Jiang happily agreed and accepted the favor.

Jiang Jingyun did not pay attention to the private interaction between the two. He looked at his younger brothers and sisters who had not seen him for a long time and were reluctant to leave. He took out the wooden sword, books and silk flowers that he had brought back from the city, and instantly received another round of enthusiastic cheers.

The two younger brothers couldn't let go of their gifts. Only one of them still remembered the agreement they made before leaving. The younger sister Jiang Qingrong held the silk flowers and colored threads in her arms, a little embarrassed: "But brother, the sachet I promised to embroider for you is not yet finished. Isn't it a bit inappropriate to accept the gift now?"

"Hmm? Then give the gift back to your brother for safekeeping, and I'll give it to you after it's finished embroidering?" Jiang Jingyun teased her deliberately.

The little sister frowned in confusion, looked at the thing in her arms and then at her brother. She hesitated for a long time before making up her mind and reluctantly returned the thing in her hand to Jiang Jingyun.

"Puchi..." His sister, who is serious but keeps her promise, is so cute. He touched her little hair and said, "Brother is just teasing you. This gift is for you. Just give me the sachet after you finish embroidering it."

"Then I'll work hard and try to finish embroidering it quickly." The younger sister hugged the gift tightly and promised with a serious face.

"Well, brother, don't worry, take your time."

In addition to the things he promised his younger brothers and sisters, Jiang Jingyun also brought gifts for everyone.

What I brought for my uncle was the unique rice wine of the city, what I brought for my aunt was the popular facial cream, the two cousins ​​were given the special snacks of the city, the eldest cousin's wife, the eldest daughter, and the youngest daughter each got a piece of cotton cloth with pretty patterns, and even the little nephew who had not yet been born received a small and exquisite safety lock.

Everyone was very happy to get the gifts they liked.

Uncle Jiang was even more delighted. He knew that his young generation was filial and promising, so he wanted to tell everyone about it.

Choose an auspicious day and hold a big banquet in the village to celebrate.

Nanhe Village has only produced such a scholar in decades. All the influential people in the village came with gifts. Not to mention establishing a relationship with the Jiang family, just by taking advantage of the scholar's fame, perhaps they could also bring honor to their own family and produce one or two scholars.

Looking at Boss Jiang standing at the door with a rosy face, everyone couldn't help but sigh, it was really a matter of time and fate.

When Uncle Jiang insisted on taking on the responsibility of raising four orphans, they laughed at him for being stupid. His own children couldn't even get enough to eat, yet he still wanted to meddle in other people's business and take on a few more burdens. But now, looking at him, not only is his business flourishing, but his nephew has also passed the imperial examination and become a scholar. It is not impossible for him to succeed in the imperial examination in the future.

The Jiang family is really blessed.

However, the smoke was not coming out in every direction. Jiang Laosan and his family, who came like ordinary guests, didn't seem to get much.

The one with the most complicated feelings was Jiang Mo. Looking at Jiang Jingyun who was in high spirits, she couldn't help but feel a little regretful. If she had been nicer to him before, maybe their whole family would be standing there and laughing.

Unfortunately, there is no medicine for regret in this world.

Jiang Lao San handed over the gift with a somewhat reserved attitude, "Uncle doesn't know what to give, but I heard that scholars need paper, ink, pens, and inkstones, so I bought some in town. You can use them as you like."

"Thank you, uncle." Jiang Jingyun took it with a smile. His attitude was as gentle as ever, but with a noticeable courtesy and alienation.

People are all made of flesh and blood. After a long time, even a fool can tell the difference between true feelings and false ones.

Those who can pass the imperial examination are certainly not fools. Although his uncle has always been nice to him, he cares more about his own family's interests. But this is understandable. People are selfish, and Jiang Jingyun is the same. That's why he is closer to his uncle's family for the same reason.

However, Jiang Jingyun never treated them unfairly.

In the past two years, my uncle's family has always been the first place I considered when I needed carpentry work. And at this time last year, he was helping his fourth cousin Jiang Jing'an tinker with flat puzzles and building blocks, and his family made a lot of money from this. Now the third cousin no longer cultivates Jiang Jingyun’s family’s land. The family makes money by making building blocks and lives a happy life.

As the guests took their seats, the main dishes were served one after another. They were all fish and meat, and most of the dishes were from Jiang Yanlou. They were exquisite and delicious, making everyone marvel at the current financial strength of the Jiang family, and making Mrs. Mo sad and regretful.

Jiang Jingyun didn't care about these. After three rounds of wine and five dishes, the guests started to toast him.

"Come on, come on, let's have a drink to the scholar!"

"Mr. Jiang, please help me take a look at my child..."

"Jiang family boy, the village chief wants to drink a cup with you too..."

“…”

Although he had several uncles to help hold him in front, he was still unable to stop the endless stream of people urging him to drink. By the end of the banquet, he was already drunk to the point of not knowing what was going on.

Jiang Jingyun tilted his head, his face flushed and slightly tipsy, and looked at the person who helped him into the room with a dazed look in his eyes. His voice seemed to be tainted with alcohol as well: "Why are you frowning? You look fierce and you don't look good at all!"

Xiao Muyan looked at the drunk cat in front of him and whispered, "Drinking is harmful to your health. You haven't recovered yet."

"What can I do? They are all senior people in the village... If I refuse, they will gossip about me tomorrow, saying that I am arrogant and look down on others just because I am a scholar..." Jiang Jingyun muttered softly, and finally promised, "At worst, I promise you that I will not drink anymore..."

Seeing that the other party was still frowning and looking disapproving, Jiang Jingyun thought for a moment, stood up shakily, and rummaged through several boxes. After a while, he found an exquisite wooden box in the corner. He put the things into Xiao Muyan's hand and said, "Here, this is a gift for you. Don't be angry."

Xiao Muyan carefully opened the box, and inside was a dark green silk headband embroidered with silver bamboo. His eyes suddenly lit up: "Is this for me?"

"Well, I saw it when I was shopping and thought it suits you." Jiang Jingyun pretended to be nonchalant, but secretly glanced at Xiao Muyan's reaction. Seeing that he stood there for a long time without reacting, he thought he didn't like it, and suddenly became annoyed, "Don't you like it? Then give it back to me!"

As he said this, he stretched out his hand to take it back, but Xiao Muyan lifted it high and dodged it easily. He lost his balance for a moment and fell directly into the other person's arms, who then tightened his arms and held him tightly.

After a long time, there was a touch of warmth touching my ear, and a hoarse and gentle response came: "I like it."

I don’t know if the “like” in the words refers to the person or the headband.

The hot breath sprayed on the neck, and it felt like an electric current passed through the places where the thin lips touched, and the numbness spread to every part of his limbs. Jiang Jingyun felt that the wine he drank today was a bit too much, otherwise why did his ears get hotter and his heart beat faster and faster.

He blushed and struggled to break free from his restraints, quickly standing up. His voice was inexplicably tense and he spoke quickly: "You're knowledgeable. I'm so sleepy and need to sleep. You go back first." After that, he fled, quickly got into bed, wrapped himself in the quilt and pretended to be asleep.

After a long while, when there was no sound in the room, Jiang Jingyun quietly stuck his head out to see if Xiao Muyan had left. He found that he was still standing by the bed, with his head lowered and brows furrowed, looking at him quietly.

Jiang Jingyun suddenly felt ashamed as if he had been caught: "Why haven't you left yet?"

Xiao Muyan's eyes flickered slightly, his thin lips curled slightly, and he tucked his quilt down: "Don't smother your head in the quilt, it will make it difficult to breathe."

"Stop talking so much, let's go quickly." Jiang Jingyun turned his back and pretended to urge him impatiently.

"I'm leaving now. Good night."

His head was gently rubbed.

Hearing the footsteps fading away, Jiang Jingyun turned around, staring at the roof beams and muttered: "Jiang Jingyun, ah Jiang Jingyun, you're done..."